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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Saint-Floret, located in the department of Puy-de-Dôme in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is a medieval building dating back to the 12th or 13th century. Its architecture includes a dungeon dominating the ensemble and a square Gothic hall, vaulted and decorated with frescoes. These murals, rediscovered in 1862 by Antonius Mayoli, represent scenes of the legend of Tristan and Iseut, inspired by a 13th century compilation. They were listed as a historical monument in 1909, just like the castle itself.

The Gothic Hall, dated from the 14th century, is 6.9 metres side-by-side and has a 12-ribed ceiling converging towards a carved vault key from a sun. The frescoes, divided into superimposed paintings, were accompanied by legends in ancient French. Only 12 of them remain today. Their style and costumes, studied by Michèle Beaulieu, suggest a realization between 1364 and 1370. The alleged sponsors vary according to the sources: Athon de Saint-Floret and Galiane de Châlus, or Jehan de Bellenaves.

The frescoes were restored in the late 1990s after their acquisition by the state in 1930 to ensure their preservation. Their iconography, similar to that of the Torre di Frugarolo in Piedmont, bears witness to the influence of Arthurian narratives in medieval Europe. The castle, open to the visit, thus illustrates the Gothic art auvergnat and its link with courteous literature.

The identification of the scenes was entrusted in the 1960s to Mario Roques, at the request of Paul Deschamps and Marc Thibout. The paintings, studied by Anne Courtillé and Claudio Lagomarsini, reveal connections with medieval manuscripts and Italian artistic traditions. Their rediscovery in the 19th century, during works led by Anatole Dauvergne, marked a turning point in the knowledge of medieval heritage auvergnat.

Future

The castle of Saint-Floret is open to visit.

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